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ERIC Number: EJ1045079
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Sep
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1540-7969
EISSN: N/A
There Is a Difference between Living in a Dream and Living a Dream: A Response to Romer and Walker
Strully, Jeffrey L.
Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, v38 n3 p202-205 Sep 2013
This article provides a response to Romer and Walker from two distinct perspectives: the field of developmental disabilities and a parent of children with developmental disabilities. Jeffrey Strully describes his current role managing a moderate-sized agency in Los Angeles that provides individualized and personalized supports as well as his work through Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS). Since 1993, when Strully took over, JNCS has closed 13 group homes and 3-day behavior programs, gotten rid of 22 vans; eliminated, segregated, and congregated programs for people with autism and other developmental disabilities; and replaced all of these programs with a person-centered approach to supporting people. They support almost 460 people in three distinct ways. They support 100 people living in their own homes. Over 85 of these people receive 24-hour support, and the rest receive "walk-in" support. Also, they support 120 people to work in real jobs, start their own businesses, and be involved in socially valued roles in the community (student, volunteer, mentor, etc.). Furthermore, they support 100 children (67% are children without a label and 33% are children with labels) to attend an inclusive summer sleep-away camp. Additionally, they support almost 140 people (mostly children and adolescents) to receive support so that families remain together and children receive the support they need to become members of their community. Finally, they have a small alternative family program. Herein, Strully describes how JNCS came about and notes that JNCS's success or failure relies on whether the direct support worker does his or her job with quality and integrity. When this happens, people with autism and other developmental disabilities grow, learn, have positive experiences, and experience so many other things, but when it is not done well, people stagnate, waste time, spend their time in "care," and languish. Strully goes on to discuss approximating good support, what traits are reasonable to expect, and the public's view of the direct support worker.
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A